Mueller matrix-based optimization of reflective type twisted nematic liquid crystal SLM at oblique incidences

Mueller matrix measurements were used to characterize the polarization properties of liquid crystal-based reflective type twisted nematic (TN) special light modulator (SLM) at oblique incidence of the laser beam. The experimentally obtained Mueller matrices were used to obtain the combination of polarization optics required to optimize it for phase only modulation. The results indicate that minimum intensity modulation is obtained with the use of a polarizer followed by a quarter wave plate (QWP) in polarization state generator (PSG) arm and a QWP followed by an analyzer in polarization state analyzer arm (PSA). Polarization parameters such as retardance, rotation and depolarization were calculated from the experimentally obtained Mueller matrices using polar decomposition method at different angle of incidences of the laser beam and the results has been discussed. The similarity between retardance and depolarization curve as a function of address voltage of TNSLM indicated that depolarization is mainly associated with errors in retardance values. Further, spectral Mueller matrix measurements were used to obtain intensity modulation response in the range of wavelengths 450-700 nm for broadband applications. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.